Welcome to The Friends In Film Blog

Is it really possible to make $1000 per day as a producer? Yes! Even if you have the dream but no experience as a movie producer, you can take the first step toward becoming one by working on set as a Production Assistant, learning from producers in production offices and assisting them on set.

You can get into the film industry from anywhere. You don’t have to move to a big city to find opportunities.

“How do I find auditions?”

It’s the most common question we get from aspiring actors. The problem they are running into is that easily found auditions are not the professional work. They are mostly shorts, freebie shoots, and student films. While you can get some valuable experience from shoots like that, they won’t be pushing your career forward in any meaningful way.

In this case study, Jocelyn talks about film school and explores a few reasons why film school might not prepare you for the industry. If you are thinking about going to film school, acting school, or any other industry related education, you’ll want to listen to what Jocelyn has to say.

It’s true that there is a lot to learn in film. However, film school is NOT the most effective way to learn what you need to know. The best way to get this necessary knowledge is to form mentor-to-apprentice relationships right on set. Then you’re learning while building professional relationships, simultaneously gaining both pieces you need to have a successful career in the film industry.

Minor markets are a great place to begin a career in film. There aren’t as many people to compete with for PA jobs, the position almost everyone in the industry does when they get their start. The shoots will be a bit smaller, but there will be enough of them to give you a chance to get on set, make some mistakes, and learn your craft. This will prepare you for the big leagues of the film industry, especially for union shoots where you don’t want to be messing up.

Many people chase their dreams of working in the film industry. With little to no experience and a nonexistent network, they pack their bags and move to a major city like LA or NYC. When they get there, they expect they are going to succeed. People who don’t have inside connections in the major markets often remain on the outside.

What do you do if you go after a position with Disney or Netflix and they pick someone else?

Don’t take it to heart. You don’t know the reason you weren’t chosen, and it might have nothing to do with you and everything to do with that other person. When successful people experience setbacks, they focus on the future they’re working toward. They immediately pivot to what’s next and go after that with the same zeal and enthusiasm they threw at that first opportunity. This is called “falling forward,” when you have a vision that allows you to keep things in perspective.

The film industry is a freelance business. A wider, stronger network will speed up your career progression. If you get stuck in a scarcity mentality, your career becomes dependent on one or a small number of professionals. You might feel secure because you put so much time and effort into these few relationships, as though you could damage them to look elsewhere too, when in actuality this both holds you back and puts your long term career in jeopardy.

Here’s an example: You work for the same production company for a long time because it feels safe and you have a good relationship with the person who does the hiring. They get you enough work. Then, they move up into another position, maybe even to a different market. They are replaced, but this new person already has their own list of professionals they offer work to. Now you’re out of the job, and worse, you’ll realize you slowed down your career by limiting the size of your network.

The film industry is an exciting place to be, so focus on the right things. There are opportunities everywhere to push your career forward. You can climb this career ladder when you develop relationships and have the right mentality. Focus on the result you want and not on your fears.

When you hear the words, ‘focus on results’, what do you hear?

You can leave the 9-5 grind and be working in the film industry sooner than you think. During dry spells (like the pandemic we’re experiencing now) you can continue to develop your confidence and maintain relationships with people you’ve worked with so far. A-list Mentor Crystal worked hard to break into the industry and move up the ranks and has been able to remain active even during the shutdown:

Crystal is like a lot of people. They go to film school, graduate, and then find themselves unable to break into the professional industry and get consistent work. This outcome has nothing to do with their technical knowledge or motivation. It happens because they lack relationships and don’t know how to go about making the right ones.

Jeremy left a well-paying job in marketing and is now a successful headliner comedian. He’s become a peer and friend to comics like Michelle Wolf, Hasan Minhaj, Jim Gaffigan, Kurt Metzget, Sarah Silverman, Ali Wong, and Brian Regan. At one time he felt isolated and disconnected from his goals and aspirations, only to later become a huge success.

When you’re working a 9-5 job and want to work in the film industry, you can feel like Jeremy did— disconnected from your dreams. The people around you probably don’t understand your desire to work as a creative person. Working in that environment day after day, month after month, year after year (!) will affect your wellbeing.

In the film industry, your success depends on reaching out and following up. It’s a relationships business, so you need to know how to make and maintain connections. In many ways this network will literally become your career.

Many film professionals get stuck doing the same job for a long time. It’s not uncommon to hear about people who were production assistants for five, even ten years. They had aspirations of moving into a craft but instead found themselves stuck doing the same thing. They were trapped because they didn’t know how to make the connections that could have moved them forward. If they’re lucky, they at some point have an opportunity to progress randomly land in front of them. That isn’t at all what we want for you.